The Obama adminsitration is going to try to open negotiations with Iran come what may – “talking” to foes is part of their core values. And Iran’s nuclear program is item number one on their agenda. Whether their negotiating partner is Khamenei-Ahmadinejad or a new reformist government doesn’t fundamentally matter.
“We do not believe that talking is a reward for good behavior, or that not talking is a good punishment for bad behavior. We’ve seen what comes from not talking. In 2001, Iran had zero [nuclear enrichment] centrifuges; now they have more than 5,000, and maybe more than 7,000. Not talking wasn’t a particularly useful thing.”
Mideast Shuffle 